Bottle closure



April 7, 942.

E. GREENE ET AL BOTTLE CLosURE Filed Oct. 11, 1939 Patented Apr. :7, 1942 2,278,924 Bo'r'rLE otosnna Edgeworth Greene, Upper Montclair, N. J., and William H. Forrest, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to Inter-Seal Corporation, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application October 11, 193,9, Serial No. 293,900t

6 Claims.

is to provide a closure embodying an improved structure, and particularly a valve structure, by means of which bottles so equipped are not only protected from refilling by methods utilizing vacuum, pressure, gravity, or by shaking, regardless'of the position in which the bottle may be held, butwhich is sealed tightly enough to prevent leakage into the interior of the bottle by dripping from the filled closure with the lbottle upright, or the application of light pressure under such circumstances, yet which will permit free pouring under. variable atmospheric temperature conditions.

Heretofore bottles equipped with non-rellable closures having valves seating tightly enough to prevent any passage of liquor into the bottle, have been found to be objectionable because of the inherent diiliculty encountered of frequently becoming air bound due to a lower atmospheric pressure forming below the valve than above ityas by chilling when climatic changes in temperature occur causing the airand liquid contents of'the bottle to contract and establishing a vacuum. A valve of the above character will then be held pressed by the increased air pressure above it against its seat and consequently the liquor in the bottle cannot be dispensed until such time as the pressure above and below the valve has finally regained equilibrium, hastened by heating the bottle but which procedure is obviously. not practical in commercial usage.

This difficulty would not exist were it possible to use valves sufficiently heavyto break away from their seats under these circumstances, but unfortunately permanently weighted valves readily permit refilling by utilizing a vacuum with the bottle inverted. This invention therefore consists particularly of the provision of means for immediately and automatically releasing any climatic vacuum existing in the bottle, operative when it is inverted to a pouring position, and accordingly permits of the use of light buoyant valve elements constructed to provide an extremely tight joint when seated.

The valve means of this invention consists of two elements,v hereinafter referred to as the primary element and the secondary element, which are superimposed within the closure, the primary element being adapted to engage a seat formed in the valve casing having an opening 'therethrough for the egress of liquid from the bottle, and the secondary element to engage and' seal a relatively small air vent extending through the primary element for use in the equalization of the aforesaid air pressures outside of and within the bottle.

Both valve elements may be made of buoyant material such as cork, or floatable hollow moulded material, or the primary element may be of solid moulded plasticsJ with thin walls to lighten its weight, and the secondary element may be of similar material but hollow tomake it buoyant and capable' of floating the primary element as well, when the bottle is inverted. Means are provided for temporarily weighting the secondary element for the purpose of moving it away from the 4primary element when the bottle is inverted to a pouring position,s and at such time as the primary element may happen to be held to its seat by a light vacuum within the bottle, and also for similarly weighting both elements so that they will be positively moved together as a unit .away from the primary seating when air pressures outside and inside the bottle are equal. y

Unlike previous attempted solutions of this problem such weighted means does not always act directly on the primary valve element which therefore is not necessarily opened first in start' ing to pour the bottle, but instead potentially control the secondary element to move it away from the primary element in order to uncover the small air vent therethrough. This step provides for the immediate admission of air into the interior 'of the bottle and the consequent equalization of the aforesaid air pressures, should any such differential exist, and following which the primary element may be readily unseated by a slight shake of the bottle, or by righting and reinverting it to automatically again connect the primary element to the weighted means.

It will now be understood that an equally important object of the invention is to provide means that will function to permit positive pouring each time the bottle is inverted in the sale over bars of a portion of its contents, or wherever the liquor may be dispensed.

Because of the high standard of performance set up by the liquor industry together with the restrictions respecting costs, and materials chem-Y ically inert to alcoholic liquors, and also because of the obvious limitations due to the small space availableA in bottle necks; any solution of this problem has to be confined to a structure that such as gravity, capillary adhesion, buoyancy, and air pressure, in order to meet the functional requirements heretofore stated.

Furthermore because of manufacturing tolerances present in the materials forming the component parts of the closure, it becomes necessary for such parts to nevertheless function without dependence upon extreme accuracy of manufacture. Therefore the principles involved herein embody the use of a hollow surface shaped to correspond to the segment of a sphere, or the frustrum of a cone, engaging the exterior of a convex surface of similar spherical configuration, the former constituting the primary valve face, and the latter the primary valve seat, which combination provides an extremely tight seal, even under the lightest of pressures, without the necessity of expensive grinding or lapping, one to the other, and which, due to the aforesaid danger of climatic locking, would be impractical for proper functioning of pouring in the absence of the provision of denite means for promptly releasing adventitious vacuums in the bottle.

The valve means of this invention is therefore of duplex construction, consisting of a primary element that is buoyant or capable of floatation, adapted to tightly seal an opening into the bottle of relatively large area for adequate pouring capacity; and a superimposed secondary element, light in weight and buoyant, and having means adapted to seat on the top of the primary element, but covering an opening therethrough of extremely small area for the admission of air. 'I'hese two elements are so arranged as to move together as a valve unit in constant engagement except only during a period of brief duration when the bottle is inverted to pour and contains a light climatic vacuum. At this time and under such conditions means are provided, hereinafter more fully described, for causing the secondary element to momentarily move away from the primary element to uncover the small opening therethrough while the primary element is held to its seat by a climatic vacuum. This functioning of the secondary element results in the immediate admission of air into the bottle and the consequent equalization of air pressure on both sides of these elements.

The initial opening of the secondary element while there is a vacuum in the bottle, is made possible because of the extreme dissimilarity of the effective areas of the two valve elements with respect to the openings they cover and which permits the secondary element to release more readily under the same given pressure, and because of this principle the secondary element will function to release the aforesaid vacuums that otherwise would be strong enough over a larger area to hold the primaryelement seated and thus prevent the bottle from being poured. However if there does not happen to be a ,vac uum in the bottle then both elements will move together away from the larger opening, there being adequate adhesion present between them when their contiguous surfaces are wet to unite them in this manner.

The structure also consists of a weight supported loosely on the top of the valve elements and adapted to slide axially within the valve housing, and by forces of adhesion to open either the secondary elementi-lrst, or both elements, as the case may be, when the bottle is inverted to pour, it being understood that forces of gravity also act upon the weight at that time.

2,278,924 lends itself'to the utilization of natural forces,

Both valve elements are constructed so that they will float together toward the primary seat when any attempt is made to refill the bottle by pressure when in an inverted position, the adhesion between the valve elements and the weight being broken by submersion at that time to prevent the weight from holding the elements in an open position with respect to any access to the interior of the bottle. The effective area of the valve-contacting surface of the weight is sufficient to overcome any tendency of the valve elements to cling by adhesion alone to the primaryseat, or to each other when the primary element is restrained by vacuum in the bottle.

Further means are provided for closing and holding the valve means seated in al1 positions of the bottle above the horizontal, consisting of a spherical weight cooperating with the slidable weight, and also with a cam surface formed on the under side of a guard member. Both the sliding weight and the guard member are provided with ample clearances and passageways for the egress of liquor and the ingress of air.

In the drawing illustrating an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the closure of this invention attached to a bottle top.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the guard member.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the slidable weight member. l

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the plane of the line 4 4 of Figure 1.'

Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 1 but showing modied climatic vacuum releasing means.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section of another modified form of the invention, and,

Figure 'I is a vertical section of a modified secondary valve element.

Referring now in detail to the drawing and particularly to Figure l, the top of a bottle neck is indicated at I0, to which is secured a closure assembly made up of a valve casing II, having a valve seat I2 and an opening therethrough I3, a gasket I 4, cover member I5, and valve mechanism comprisinga duplex valve consisting of two members, I'I and I8, the former being hereinafter referred to as the primary element, and the latter as the secondary element, a slidable weight member I9, a spherical weight member 20, and a guard member 2| These parts are held in assembly with the bottle neck Il) by spinning the lower portion of the cover member I5 in and around a suitable annular recess and .bead surrounding the bottle neck adjacent the top thereof.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the slidable weight member I9, and the guard member 42| are made of porcelain, due to the adaptability of this material for the desired purpose. The valve casing II may also be made of similar material, or it may consist of moulded plastics which are chemically inert when in contact with liquors contained in the bottle. The spherical weight member 20 is preferably made of glass, or agate, because of cheapness and accuracy of manufacture by well known methods, and because this substance is heavy enough for the purpose intended. The valve seat I2 is of a particular configuration consisting in cross section, as shown in Figure l, of a segment of a sphere, the full size of which latter being indicated in broken lines, and extends upwardly from the bottom inside surface of member I I.

Both the primary and secondary elements I1 and I8 are cylindrical and made of cork or other buoyant material. Element I1 is provided with a concave face I1' also corresponding in configuration to the segment of a sphere whose radius is substantially the same as that of the seat I2, so that when this element is seated the aforesaid curvatures of seat and face will be approximately concentric to each other.` It will be noted that the annular portion of element I1 engaging and surrounding seat I2 is vrelatively thin in cross section and therefore very flexible. In this manner an airtight seal is provided between the valve and the interior of the bottle which does not require expensive grinding or lapping, but which nevertheless is fully resistant to low as well as high pressures that may be used in attempts to defeat the purpose of this invention. Element I1 is provided with an aperture axially of the closure for the snug reception of a hollow tubular rivet 23, preferably made of a non-reactant metal, such as block tin, and havinga top annular flange 23 which is rolled radially outwardly to provide an annular seat of convex curvature in cross section, as shown in Figure 1. After the rivet l23 has been pressed firmly in placewith the flange 23 bearing tightly against the top surface of element I1, the lower end may be upset as shown to" prevent dislodgement. Element I1 is thus provided with an air vent which will remain constant as to diameter, and an appropriate seat adjacent the top thereof, that can be cheaply manufactured with uniform accuracy in production, and of an unchangeable depend-able character.

Element I8 is also provided with an aperture H axially of the closure at I8' for the tight reception of the shank 25 of a needle valve 24 preferably made of a similar metal, and having a portion 26 frusta-conical in shape with an angle of approximately 45 degrees for engagement with the convex seat of rivet 23. Beneath the portion 26 is a projection 28'extending through the rivet 23 and constituting means for maintaining elements I1 and I8 substantially aligned to ensure proper seating of the aforesaid metal parts. The `needle valve and seat when constructed in `the manner shownprovide a liquid-tight joint which will prevent leakage by dripping, or the admission of liquor under the pressures of high or low vacuums which may be created in the bottle inv attempts to refill it.

The configuration of the contacting surfaces of the two metal parts is such as to provide a line contact that is easily parted when desired,

and the area of the circle so defined is small` enough to minimize the pressure thereupon of climatic vacuums 4in the bottle to adegree that the joint between the' needle valve and its seat may be broken in pouring the bottle by the aforesaid forces of'adhesion and gravity ywithin the power limitations available, thus obviating the need of too bulky weight members, or adhering. surface areas of so great an extent as to be im-` nracticable.

vIt will be understood that when the needle valve 24 is seated, as shown in Figure l, there should be a minimum amount of clearance between the contiguous surfaces of the primary and secondary valve elements, so that when wet these surfaces will adhere to each other with a liquid film therebetween of suilicient strength to uniteA both elements for the purpose set forth. f

The adhesion however existing between the weighted member I9 and the secondary element I8 is of a predominating nature because their surfaces contactv more intimately, and because such'adhesion is further supplemented to some extent by the adhesion between the circumferential walls of the secondary element and the surrounding walls of the weighted member I 9.

The cover member l5 may be made of porcelain with thicker walls and attached to the bottle neck in a well known manner by a separate metallic ferrule, or it may be made with somewhatA thinner walls of moulded plastics, or made cheaply oi' light gauge metal, as shown herein, consisting of a cover member and combined ferrule integrally formed and specially coated on both surfaces by a protective coating such as that known commercially as vinylite, which is substantially inert to alcoholic liquors, and sufilciently elastic to permit drawing in dies for fabrication into suitable shapes, and for spinning onto bottle necks as shown at 22. Cover membcr I5 has a tubular discharge orifice 32 extending through a pouring spout with a terminal bead or upset top end 36, for the reception of a top cork, not shown. Suitable shoulders 31 and 38 are provided for the positioning of flange 30 of guard 2I and the flange 3l of the casing I I, and

joint will be maintained. Any attempted re- I moval of member I5 will result in its destruction as a whole.

The slidable weight member I9 is cylindrical and hollow with a flat top wall I9', and has a downwardly extending circumferential wall loosely surrounding element I8. The inner surface of wall I9 is flat and normally in close contact with the flat top surface of element I8 upon which weight I9 is supported when the bottle is upright. Weight I9 is thus adapted to adhere to element I8 when the contiguous surfaces of both are wet, and thereby provides weighted means for positively opening the needle valve 24 when the bottle is inverted. However upon submergence of these elements with the bottle inverted such adhesion is lost and element I8 will then be disconnected from weight I9, and free to float upwardly to close the needle valve 24 which will consequently not then be held by weight I 9 in an open position.

The casing II is provided with spaced longitudinally disposed ribs II' for guiding the weight I9, and to provide suitable passageways therebe- I tween and between the weight for the egress of liquid and the ingress of air during the pouring of the bottle, and when the closure is in a horizontal position the ribs Il' serve as rails for the f weight I9 to slide upon.

Means are provided for closing both valve elements when the bottle is moved from a pouring position to a horizontal position, and which are also adapted to function effectively to prevent unseating of the valve elements when the bottle is shaken in an upright position. For these purposes the ball 20 is provided, and normally rests on the top of the weight I9, but in a position always out of axial alignment therewith, due to a conical projection 21 extending upwardly from the center of the wall I9 of said weight, the ball being free to roll in a `circular path around this projection.

The inside configuration of the guard 2I is frusto-conical in shape the annular sloping walls 34 extending upwardly from the inner edge of flange 30, and terminating in a rounded top portion to provide a pocket 33 for the reception of ball 20 (see broken lines in Figure 1) to permit the valve elements to open when the bottle is tilted to a pouring position. The sloping walls 34 also provide a cam surface for actuating the ball from the broken line position to that indicated in full lines. This occurs as the bottle is moved from an inverted position toward a horizontal one, and this movement of the ball, at that time downwardly and forwardly towards seat I2, moves the weight I9, which in turn seats the valve elements, and effectively prevents refilling of the bottle by leakage when submerged.

The shape of the guard member 2I is circular as shown in Figure 2, and substantially frustoconical in cross section, both inside and outside, as shown in Figure 1. It is provided with a flange 30 and a plurality of spaced through openings 29 arranged in a circular path close to ange 30 on one side and coinciding with an annular upf standing shoulder 30' on the other side deflning the cylindrical dome-like top of the guard, and in close proximity to the adjacent wall of the cover member I5. The combination of the shoulder and the individual openings 29 provide an effective baille to prevent the successful introduction of a wire or other expedient, for the purpose -of interfering with the functioning of the movable parts of the closure. Openings 29 provide adequate passageways for the egress -of liquid and the ingress of air during pouring.

The guard is supported above the casing I I by its flange 30 which rests on the flat surface of the flange 3| of the casing II', so that when in assembled relation the guard is maintained in a substantially xed position with respect to the movable parts of the closure.

Referring to Figure 5, the component parts illustrated correspond to those of Figure l except that a cover member I5 is shown of suitable thickness and shape for manufacture in porcelain. It has an internal annular shoulder 31' for engagement with the top of flange 30 of the guard member 2 I, and an annular exterior shoulder 40 of convex curvature for the reception f the concave inner surface of an annular inturned flange 4I of a metallic ferrule 42, which latter surrounds the base 43 of the cover member and the mouth of the bottle neck I0, and which is attached by spinning the lower portion thereof in and around the annular recess and bead of the bottle neck. The bottom surface of the base 43 rests upon the gasket I4, and a tight joint is effected in the manner previously described herein, pressure being applied from above on flange 4I and the shoulder 40.

The cooperating parts carried by the elements of the valve `means for automatically releasing incidental climatic vacuums in the bottle are also of modified structure, primarily in order to elevate their seating engagement to a position remote from the primary element, and well above the center of gravity of weight member I9, so as to obviate any tendency of these parts rto permit slight leakage during any rocking of member I9 with the bottle in an upright position.

In this instance a vent is provided for element I1 in the form of a pin 50 extending upwardly therefrom axially of the closure. Pin 50 is secured to element I1 through the cooperation of an annular flange 5I -adapted to rest upon the top surface of said element, and a portion 52 which extends through and beyond an opening 53 in the center of element I1. Portion 52 is hollow to provide thin walls capable of being upset as shown at 54 to bear against the lower surface of element I1 and hold the pin firmly in place. Pin 50 is bored to provide an opening 55 therethrough in direct communication with the interior of the bottle. The exterior surface of the upper end 50' of pin 56 preferably corre sponds in shape to the segment of a sphere.

The secondary element I6 is provided with a tubular insert 56, closed at'its upper end 51, and provided at its. opposite end. with a flange 58. Element I8 has a through opening 59 into which the insert 56 is tightly pressed so as to extend upwardly within said opening to a degree limited by flange 56 when it contacts the lower surface of element I8. 'I'he end 51 is provided with an interior conical seat of approximately a forty-five degree angle, for engagement with the top of pin 50, and suitable clearance is provided between pin 5|! and the surrounding walls of insert 56 for freedomof movement, and for the passage of air when element I6 moves away from element I1 sufficiently for the seat at the end 51 to uncover opening 55. The effective functioning of this modified form of the invention is otherwise similar to that previously described in connection with Figure l.

It will be apparent that element I6, member I9, and spherical weight member 20 are supported on the top of pin 50 when the parts referred to are in the position shown in Figure 5, and that element I8 so suspended may now be free to rock universally without any disturbance of the effective seating of insert 56 and pin 50.

Aside from the primary object of elevating the seating position of parts 50 and 55, it is believed that this structure provides for the trapping of an air bubble within the insert 56 at the top thereof, and which, with the bottle upright, tends to preclude any liquor from entering this zone unless pressure .is increased sumciently to lift element I8. This however cannot happen because such pressure also acts in opposition to prevent anylifting of element I8, and in consequence thereof there is no opportunity for slight leakage by gravity dripping'under such circmnstances, ory as might otherwise possibly occur should light pressure be applied, such as by blowing or suction with the mouth, when the attached closure is filled with liquor.

The flexibility of the lower portion of element I1 surrounding the valve seat I2 may be enhanced by means of a circumferentially disposed annular groove 60, as shown in Figure 5.

Weighted member I9 should be heavy enough so that together with the aforesaid prevailing forces of adhesion utilized, it will have suillcient power through forces of gravity acting thereon, to open the valve. means by overcoming the forces of climatic vacuums and adhesion of seat I2, which tend to hold the valve means seated when the bottle is inverted to pour.

Referring to Figure 6, the primary valve element 65 shown therein may be made of moulded plastic Amaterial that is resistant to alcoholic beverages. It is suitably proportioned to be light in Weight, although not necessarily buoyant, and is provided with an upwardly extending projection 66 corresponding to pin 50 of Figure 5, but

forming an integral part of element 65, and having an air vent opening 61 therethrough. The top 66 of projection 66 corresponds in shape to the segment of a sphere. 'I'he lower surface of element 65 is recessed and frusto-conical in conv ical valve -seat I2 and forming substantially a line contact therewith for the provision of a liquid-tight joint.

The secondary element 69 is also made of moulded plastics and consists of two parts, 'I0 and ll, secured together in an air tight manner to form a hollow float capable of also floating the primary element 65. Part I is frusto-conical and hollow with a ilat circular top wall l2 of minor diameter, and is open at the major diameter bottom end to receive an annular flange I3 extending upwardly from the nat disk-like portion 'It of part 'l I, and adapted to provide a press t joint to prevent any leakage of liquid therethrough and into the hollow interior of part 10.

Weighted member 'i5 is similar to member I9 but its interior configuration is shaped to correspond to the exterior of part I0 which is normally contained therein as shown. Part II has a hollow projection 'I6 extending upwardly from portion I4 which corresponds to insert 5S but which forms an integral part of member 1 I, and

is provided with an inner seat 11 adjacent its.

, fiat surface of portion 'I4 will be close to the flat upper surface 65 of element 65 but not in actual contact therewith for the purpose already described.

When there is novacuum in the bottle then -weighted member I5 adhering to the secondary element 69 will move the same, and which in turn, because it is likewise adhering to the primary element 65, will move it also, so that these three parts of the closure will move together as a unit Yduring any pouring of the bottle under such circumstances. Likewise as previously explained, member 'I5 when submerged will be disconnected from the secondary element 69 and the same will then be free to float and to also float the primary element 65 with it toward the 'seat I2. In Figure '7 a modied secondary element is shown suitable for substitution'in the closure of Figure 6 by omitting element 69 thereof. It consists of a cork body 18 of a configuration similar to element 69, and having an insert 19 tightly fitted into 'an opening 80 therethrough. Insert 'IS corresponds in shape and functional requirements to projection 16 shown in Figure 6.

'The outside of element 69, and body IIL-and the interior surrolmding walls of member 'l5 are Y, stances the outwardly tapering surfaces of the' secondary element and the surrounding walls of member 15 are effective to set up other components of buoyancy in and along such inclined planes, and which expedient facilitates the floating movement of the secondary element in a direction toward the seat I2.

Whatis claimed is: l

1. In a closure of the kind described for attachment to a bottle, the sub-combination of 'a valve compartment with inlet and outlet openings at opposite ends thereof respectively, valve means and movable cooperating weighted means in the compartment, said valve means consisting of a primary element and a secondary element in superimposed relation beneath said weighted means, said primary element being adapted to seal said inlet opening, and having an upstanding projection with an opening therethrough to provide an air vent leading from said compartment into said bottle, and of relatively small area with respect to that of said inlet opening, and said secondary element having a tubular portion extending upwardly from the base thereof, said tubular portion being closed at the top end and the inner surface of which being adapted to seat on the top of said projection and seal said opening therethrough, the contiguous surfaces of the weighted means and the secondary element, and those of the primary and secondary elements being adapted to adhere when wet for the purpose set forth.

2. The sub-combination set forth in claim 1, in which the said projection of the primary element and the tubular portion of the secondary element have annular cooperating seating surfaces, one of which corresponds in shape to the frustrum of a cone, and the other of which is convex, and adapted to engage each other with substantially a line contact.

3. The sub-combination set forth in cla-.im 1, in which the said Weighted means has annular Walls circumferentially surrounding the secondary element, the inner surface of which tapers outwardly toward said inlet opening, and in which the secondary element has annular'walls of similar configuration, whereby when the bottle ismoved from a pouring position toward a horizontal position and said parts aresubmerged, the secondary element Amay float outwardly from the weighted means'al'ong a rising inclined plane with respect to the axis of the bottle. y

4. In a closure of the kind described for attachment to a bottle, the sub-combinationof a valve compartment with inlet and outlet openings at opposite ends thereof respectively. valve means and cooperating weighted means in the compartment, said valve means consisting of a primary element and a secondary element insuperimposed relation beneath said weighted means, said primary element'being adapted to seal said inlet opening, and having air-vent means including a ,-'projection extending upwardly from the primary element, and having an opening therethrough leading from` said' compartment to said inlet opening, and of relatively small area with respect to that of .said inlet opening, and said secondary element having-'sealing means adapted to close the opening in said air-vent means, and consisting of a part thereof having a recess for the reception therein of said projection.

5. The sub-combination set forth in claim 4, in which the projection 'and the top wall of said recess haveengageable seating surfaces which are respectively ofa configuration `to provide substantially a line contact with each other.

6. In a closure of the kind described for attachment to a bottle, the sub-combination of a valve compartmentwith inlet and outlet openings at opposite ends thereof respectively, valve means in the compartment consisting of a. primary element and a secondary elementair: superimposed relation, said primary element being adapted to seal said inlet opening, and having an air-vent therethrough leading from said compartment to said inlet opening ot relatively small area with respect to the area of said inlet openjection, and the other a recess for receiving seid projection, and the contiguous surfaces `of the projection and recess being adapted to close said air-vent when iri contact with each other.

EDGEWORTH GREENE. WILLIAM H. FORREST.

his'. one'ci'vv saidvalve .elements having a pro- 

